All Blacks Face Second-Row Injury Concerns Ahead of England Test Series
The All Blacks have encountered a significant setback in their preparations for the upcoming England Test series, with the news that lock Patrick Tuipulotu will be sidelined for six to seven weeks due to a torn medial ligament in his right knee. This latest injury adds to the concerns surrounding the All Blacks’ second-row depth, which had already been tested following the departures of legendary duo Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.
Retallick’s move to Japan and Whitelock’s recent retirement have left the All Blacks short on experience in the engine room.
With Scott Barrett also nursing an issue that has limited his playing time for the Crusaders this Super Rugby Pacific season, head coach Scott Robertson may be forced to field a completely new pairing against England next month.
The 30-year-old Barrett is expected to be fit for the upcoming Tests, but his lack of ideal preparation could hamper the All Blacks’ preparations. Tuipulotu’s absence also removes a valuable option that would have allowed Robertson to potentially blood a new lock alongside Barrett.
Promising Options to Fill the Void
Despite the injury concerns, the reigning world champions have several promising options to fill the void, led by Tupou Vaa’i, who has earned over 20 caps for the national team. However, the 24-year-old has yet to truly cement his place at the Test level. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Quinten Strange, and Jamie Hannah are also in contention, while the Blues’ Laghlan McWhannell and Sam Darry have also impressed in Super Rugby Pacific.
The All Blacks’ Test series against England, scheduled for July 6 and 13 in Dunedin and Auckland, respectively, promises to be a stern challenge for the world champions as they aim to rebuild their second-row depth in the absence of Retallick, Whitelock, and now Tuipulotu.
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